The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-02-24
Fire Protecsio. a.d water works.

AALLAhAek66, LA, = co., 63, 1901.
Messrs. Editors. 1t seems that it Is about To
devolve upon our new City Council to decide
the long mooted question whether we are to
have fire protection or not We presume that
they will also determine what characrer of pro.
lection Tallahassee is to have, If any. As
usual in such cases, there are various PROPOSE
tions as to modes of protection and the cost oil
each. No protection can be had without ex-
pense, and the question for consideration, as we
understand it, is first, what will give us the best
and surest protection, and next the expense OF
protection.
The purchase Of fire engine and its appara-
tus, means an outly of several thousand dollars
for the purchase price thereof This means the
building or providing suitable house properly
located in which to keep this engine. and like
all other machinery, it must be kept in perfect
order all the time or it will be sure not TO work
when wanted for use; this means q continuing
expense. Again, like all other machinery, It
will be constantly out of repair, which means
an expense which cannot be estimated. to cav
nothing of the risk of its being out of order and
refusing to work just at the the time that the fire
may be raging. If it be a chemical engine it
will require some experienced person to properly
handle it 1t would have to be replenished
each time used, and perhaps repaired also. If it
be an engine for throwing water, in addition to
the above objections, the question arises, where
is the waterP Water is the natural enemy OF
fire, and is the only thing yet discovered that
can be relied upon TO extfngush fire, and want
IN our city as great as the apparatus with which
to extingnsh fire, Is water. Water is needed
every day by every one
When fires occur we are utterly powerless for
the want of water. This question Of water has
been perhaps as much discussed in this CITY az
that of protection from fire. To obtain either
necessitates an outlay of money. Both are very
necessary to the prosperity and growth Of the
city of Tallahassee. OF the two perhaps an
abundant supply ofwater will enhance more the
value of property in this city than the having
OF any fire engine that can be bought Various
schemes have been proposed for the water
works, but all have been found too expensive
and attended with too much uncertainty as to
success to justify the effort to obtain them. A
proposition is now before the City Council which
seems to meet the entire needs of the city, both
as to an ample supply of water and fire protec.
ton. The city is not asked to experiment or to
take any risk whatever in fact nothing is asked
from the city but 10 pay an annual rent for tie
\ use of hydrants for public purposes and pro.
lection from fires the company making the
proposition taking all risks and paying all ex-
penses. If the water is not furnished, as
agreed, then the city pays nothing. The works
| to be placed here, BY this company, would be
assessed to pay its proportion of taxes to the
| city this would be actual revenue for the city.
This company states that insurance companies
will reduce the cost of insurance from
IS to 80 per cent This amount will
be an actual saving of money to our
citizens and taxpayer. Can either of these
be had by the purchase of any kind of fire en-
CINE? We think not As before stated, the fire
engine and apparatus will be never ending
source OF expense an expense that can never be
calculated in advance, whereas the exact expense
to the city under this proposition will be known
in advance and the city authorities can provide
for the payment Of it without any possible chance
of its being increased. There will be no machin-
eryto get out of order costly engines to 60 to
decay standing idle, in short there will be moth
ing but to attach hose to q hydrant and point
the end of that hose upon the fire; this any one
can do. There is however, another important
sition by the city authorities, that is, the fact
water at the command Of ever house, public and
private, in the city, at a mere nominal
figure. So that in favor of this proposition we
have the wants and cOnveniences of ever fam
lily and of every building supplied we have an
abundant supply of water for all purposes, public
and private; we have q revenue from these
works in the shape taxes paid into the citytreas-
ury /; we have diminished insurance premiums,
which is money saved, therefore, money made /;
we have the value Of all city property enhanced,
and the city permanently beauti6ed and i'm
proved. In the interest Of the city, the tax pay
ers, and all the citizens, we ask that our city
guardians consider well the many benefits TO be
derived from this scheme, and il possible avail
themselves Of this opportunity to supply long ex-
isting wants. Pro Bono PUBLICo.